When God Says Be Still
I don’t like waiting, there, I’ve said it. I also think that most of the population is probably like me. I am about to age myself and say that waiting was part of my everyday life for the first 20 years. My siblings and I would have to take turns talking on the one phone line we had in the house. I would mail letters to friends back when the USPS wasn’t called snail mail because it was the only way to mail things. Things could not be ordered online because there were no e-commerce sites. Every 10 minutes into a TV program or movie, there was ad time, and I would have to wait it out to finish watching what I wanted.
Now, we live in a time when we can get almost anything we want reasonably quickly, and doing everyday things is easier than before. Yet, the ability to wait less for what we want can be detrimental to ourselves and our relationships.
I would love to say that in every decision and question in my life, I have been able to live according to God’s timing. Yet, several times, I have made decisions based on my impatience rather than God’s omnipotence. Even recently, I mistook my own selfish desire for God’s call on my life.
Psalms 46:10 is a verse God continuously reminds me of during this season of life. It says, “Be still and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” (NIV)
Being still is a point of conviction for me by God since this seems to be a recurring issue I have, and it has led me to do things poorly on my own instead of stopping to hear God’s heart and waiting patiently for the plans he has for me. When I am not still in my mind, body, or heart, it can be challenging to hear the voice of God and trust in his perfect timing.
I have some health issues that affect my everyday life, and nine years ago, God promised me healing. I do not doubt that he will fulfill his promise to me in his timing, and within the past few years, I have started to get better little by little. So, over these years, as my health has improved, instead of being still, I exhibited an unbridled excitement that had very little to do with pausing and reflecting on what God intended to do with the healing he has given me. I made plans with people I could not keep and tried to push myself and do more than I should. I mistook my improved health as an opportunity to do more instead of using the time to know God more.
In God’s infinite patience and love, even when I did not heed his word, he gently reminded me of his graciousness when I quietly came to him with intention, appreciation, and a desire to learn who he is. This amazes me, especially because as I have grown in my faith, I have been able to experience that he is my all-in-all, everything I want and need: my Lord, my Savior, my Friend, and my Father.
God promises in Psalm 46:10 that we will know him when we still ourselves. Most of the Psalms were written by David, who was called a man after God’s own heart, who sincerely desired to know God and sought him out regardless of what was going on in his life. David would go into the presence of God with openness and vulnerability, seeking an intimate relationship, and God met him and showed David who he was.
A profound and awe-inspiring example of David being vulnerable and crying out to God in frustration, confusion, and pain when he was weary of waiting is Psalm 69. Verses 16-17 say: “Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.” (NIV)
This chapter encourages me because even David felt helpless when God told him to wait; he called on God to answer him quickly. Yet, only after the waiting did David see the miracles God did more clearly and with a greater appreciation for God’s love, mercy, and protection.
The final part of Psalm 46:10 says that God will be honored in every nation and throughout the world. This part may sometimes be regarded as an afterthought compared to the first part of this verse, yet these words are what it is all about! We can be still and know God, but we need to do it all for his honor and glory.
Whatever God does for us should be something we want to share with others. There is a song called “The Story I’ll Tell” by Maverick City Music and Naomi Raine that I love. To sum it up, the lyrics of this song say that we can testify to others about what God has done because God has not failed us; instead, he has fought our battles and won them for us.
In Psalm 105, David says, “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” (NIV)
When we are still, we can know God intimately, and as we know him and see his hand at work, we will want to bring honor to his name and share him with others! , When God tells us “not now” and to be still, it is because He is good, his timing is perfect, and his love is unshakeable.
Reflection:
Do you find yourself doing only one of the three things Psalm 46:10 instructs us to do?
What is one of the things talked about in this article that you want to do more?
What has God shown you about himself lately?
Is there someone with whom you want to share God’s work in your life?
Follow-Up:
Take time to read Psalm 46 to see why the Israelites praised God.
Take time to read Psalm 69. It is a beautiful passage for when we are overwhelmed or downhearted.
Take time to read Psalm 105 to see all the glorious things about who God is.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We praise you for meeting us in the quiet, speaking to our hearts as you prepare our paths. Lord, help us tell others about you as we reflect daily on who you are.
Amen
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Although she grew up on the beach in SC and lived in the mountains of CO, Andrea loves living in GA more than anywhere else since she lives there with her husband, John, and their dog, Maya. She enjoys reading, writing, embroidery, and sourdough making. As she has gotten older, she has seen that God offers peace beyond understanding, his timing is perfect, and he works all things for his glory. In this season of life, she is experiencing the blessings of marriage, as well as the newness of God’s healing and restoration. She enjoys sharing her life and the Word of God through writing for Tirzah and hopes that lives and hearts will be touched through her words.